The field of Clinical Laboratory Science is open to those who have an interest in medical science. The student who enters this allied health profession should show aptitude for mathematics and for the chemical and biological sciences.

The clinical laboratory scientist/medical technologist (CLS/MT) supervises or performs laboratory tests that aid the physician in the diagnosis and treatment of the patient's disease. Often these tests--in clinical chemistry, medical microbiology, parasitology, hematology, immunology, blood transfusion services, urinalysis, immunoassay, and other analyses--disclose subtle changes that might not be detected in any other way. Laboratory analysis requires that the technologist learn complex biotechnical theory and skills, including molecular diagnostics and molecular genetics.

The majority of CLS/MTs work in hospital clinical laboratories as well as industry, research, or public health agencies in this country and abroad. Growth in the number of public and private medical facilities, the increased importance of laboratory tests for medical diagnosis, and the initiation of new government health care programs have created a need for more CLS/MTs.

Program Mission

The Clinical Laboratory Science prograrm is dedicated to fulfilling the motto of the School of Allied Health Professions, "To Lead, To Heal, To Serve" through providing academic and clinical experiences where students strive for excellence in their work, integrity, and ethical relationships that help contirbute to the health and well-being of patients.

Goals

The Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) program is part of the School of Allied Health Professions at Loma Linda University. The goals of the school and the department as are follows:

1. To provide opportunity, instruction, and guided experience by which the student may acquire the basic knowledge and attain the skills essential to the practice of a chosen profession.

2. To help the student accept responsibility for integrity, ethical relationships, and empathic attitudes which can contribute to the welfare and well-being of patients.

3. To help the student develop a background of information and attitudes conducive to interprofessional understanding and cooperation.

4. To encourage the student to cultivate habits of self-education that will foster life long growth.

5. To engender and nurture in the student the desire to serve mankind, and in particular, to serve as needed in the medical centers sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist church both in this country and elsewhere.